Brockon firefighters to carry heroin antidote

Saturday

Feb 15, 2014 at 12:01 AM

In two weeks, after the required training, Brockton firefighters will begin carrying Narcan with them as they respond to calls across the city.

Staff Reporter

BROCKTON - When first responders arrive at the scene of an overdose, the difference between life and death may be just a matter of minutes.
That is why in two weeks, after the required training, Brockton firefighters will begin carrying Narcan with them as they respond to calls across the city.
Narcan, known generically as naloxone, is a drug that can reverse the effects of an opiate overdose, such as heroin or oxycodone, saving the person's life.
“They're (firefighters) always the first ones on the scene, and the thing is they usually beat the ambulance by anywhere between 5 to 8 minutes,” said Mayor Bill Carpenter. “Why are we going to let someone die on the sidewalk for 5 minutes if they could've just given them the Narcan instead of waiting for the ambulance.”
Carpenter said the decision to begin supplying firefighters with the drug has been a priority since he first took office to combat what he called an “overdose epidemic” sweeping the city.
“There's been at least 15 overdoses and at least three deaths in the last 10 days in the city of Brockton due to overdose,” Carpenter said. “What it comes down to is I'm tired of people dying on the streets of my city.”
As opiate abuse continues to plague communities across the commonwealth, Narcan, which is administered as a nasal spray, has become a valuable tool in trying to turn the tide against the wave of overdoses.
In December, police officers in Stoughton underwent training to begin carrying the medication and, on Tuesday, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced his intention to equip all first responders in his city with Narcan.
The BAMSI C.O.P.E. Center in Brockton has been distributing the medication since Feb. 25, 2009, as part of a pilot program in conjunction with the state Department of Public Health.
“Nasal naloxone is a valuable resource for our program because it is easy to use, effective, with no risk for abuse,” Heather Kennedy, the center's program director, said in an email. “It tells our program participants that we, as a community, value your life, have hope for your future and your life is worth saving.”
Kennedy added that the program has received multiple reports each month from people who have successfully reversed an overdose.
Hilary Jacobs, director of the DPH's Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, said the agency has documented more than 2,500 overdose reversals across the state since the program was implemented.
The Narcan and the atomizer used to administer it costs the DPH $20.28 combined and comes in packages of two, putting the total cost at $40.56.
However, the effects the drug have are priceless.
“Narcan keeps people alive, hopefully long enough for them to engage in treatment,” said Jacobs.